Chappy 2! Enjoy!

Ashamed

Zangan-ken!

Dust flew as the demon slowly disintegrated into ashes from the strike its opponent just smote. Setsuna slowly sheath her sword as she watch the last of the demon disappeared into the cool brisk air. That was the last of them, she was sure. All of them have been a piece of cake except the last one. The demon did put up a good fight, but it was nothing Setsuna couldn't handle.

On her right side, Mana had just finished shooting down the last of the deserters fleeing toward the forest. Casually surveying the surroundings with her dark eyes, she remarked casually "That was easy."

Setsuna scoffed as she started walking down the trail as they were before they were rudely ambushed. What Mana said was true; it was getting a little too easy… If this was going to go out for awhile, Setsuna feared that her skills might lack and if her skills lack, she can't protect Konoka.

Being the ever so observant comrade she is, Mana watched as Setsuna debated with herself. Being around her comrade for awhile now, she knew how Setsuna's mindset was like as vice versa. Seriously, sometimes she was just so tempted to whack the swordsgirl over the head with one of her 9MM, if the guns weren't so new.

If she would just embrace her other side, then it shouldn't be so hard. Curse her for being so dense sometimes.

It was about a year ago when Setsuna had shown her wings to her friends. As beautiful as they were, she was ashamed to show them. It took the full persuasion skills of Asuna and Konoka to get her not to run away and stay. Since then, the wings have been a touchy subject to Setsuna unless it was Konoka asking about it.

Mana had never talked or thought about it since it wasn't her business. But ever since she knew that Setsuna wouldn't be able to reach her full potential if she doesn't use her wings to incorporate her training into it.

For awhile they walked in silence through the dark forest. Setsuna was still mauling over her skills as Mana walked beside her. As each minute passed by, Mana began to grow irritated. Usually, Mana would just let Setsuna figured it out since it was none of her concern and she wasn't getting paid to be a therapist, but today for some reason she just wanted to get the point straight across Setsuna's head.

Wondering why this was going through her head today of all days, she steeled herself when she dropped the bomb.

"Why don't you use your wings to work with your skills?"

As expected, Setsuna stopped in her tracks and rigidly stood there. There was a stretch of uncomfortable silence before she spoke.

"I don't need any wings to help me" said Setsuna through clenched teeth. Fist clenching the handle of her sword so that it was almost white with body so still that it was almost a rock, it was a wonder that Mana didn't get overwhelm by the ominous aura the swordsgirl was unintentionally releasing right now.

"You will become a even more powerful warrior if you use your wings, Setsuna.." stated Mana calmly watching the other girl with cool eyes as she ready herself just in case Setsuna does something she isn't suppose to be doing.

"I don't need those wings, they are not part of me"

"You fool!" exploded Mana, getting even more irritated as it is. "They are very much part of you, if Konoka ojou-sama accepts why couldn't you?"

Instead of answering her back, Setsuna took off racing down the trail leaving a slightly astonished Mana behind.

How long has she been running she doesn't know. Eventually Setsuna came to a stop in a small clearing. Sighing she looked up into the clear sky.

Ever since she was little, she had been casted out of her tribe because of the wings. Because of the wings, she has been branded as a curse and should be set to die. She could never accept her wings, because it is a burden and it will always remind her of whom she is.

Konoka ojou-sama just doesn't know any better, she doesn't know what these wings will cost her.

A small crackle behind her snapped her out of her thoughts. She quickly turned around with her sword drawn… only to find Mana standing there holding her pair of 9MM in her hands pointing it at her.

They stood there glaring at each other as a cool wind blew by. Then all the sudden, Setsuna's expression soften as she straighten up, sheathing her sword.

"When I am ready I will accept the wings on my record."

Mana stood there expressionlessly glaring at her before she huffed, swinging her guns back into her holster. "Don't take all day thinking about it" she said walking pass Setsuna to continue their patrol.

Setsuna couldn't help but grin a little as she followed after the markswoman

"By the way, I shot down some demons that was about to attack you when you ran past them. I'll put it on your tab."

"…"